Fenty: CFSA Has Made Major Strides in Reducing Backlog

By Marcia Davis

The Child and Family Services Agency has reduced its backlog of cases from 1,750 to 92, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty announced today at a news conference with Attorney Peter J. Nickles and CFSA interim director Roque Gerald.

The mayor and city officials said they were especially proud of the caseload reduction.

When CFSA was struggling this summer after Banita Jacks's four daughters were found dead in their home, the agency faced possible federal takeover. Agency watchdogs had filed a request for contempt order. But in October the request was put aside and the motion put on hold, and instead the agency was given a list of 11 goals, ranging from recruitment to clearing the backlog of cases older than 30 days.

Fenty said this morning that he wanted to thank every one of the 852 social workers. He led several rounds of applause for the workers, thanking them for their dedication.

Fenty had angered social workers and helped crush morale after the Jacks case, when he fired six staff members, several of whom were reinstated.

This morning, however, it was all about cheering on the agency's success.

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